Mother (as a verb)

Used as a verb, to mother means to dazzle, take charge, or set an example so admired that people look up to you. Saying someone mothered a performance or is mothering is high praise. The term grows out of the Black and Latinx LGBTQ+ ballroom scene, where a house mother is the matriarch of a chosen family, mentoring and protecting her children and drag daughters and sons. Drag Race contestants call RuPaul mother for her influence in the same spirit. Over time the word grew beyond ballroom to describe essentially anyone setting a desirable example, and it is closely tied to the phrase giving life. When someone says she is mother, they mean she leads and everyone else is following.